Mexican authorities in Culiacán, Sinaloa state, have uncovered 20 corpses, including five decapitated bodies, amid ongoing cartel violence. The grim discovery comes at a time when the city is in the grip of a violent struggle between two rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel—Los Chapitos and La Mayiza. The bodies were found on Monday, with four decapitated corpses hanging from a highway bridge. Their heads, stored in a plastic bag, were discovered nearby, according to the Associated Press. Another 16 victims, all with gunshot wounds, were found stuffed into a white van on the same freeway. A note linked to one of the cartel groups was also recovered, though its contents remain undisclosed.
Culiacán, home to around 1 million residents, has become a battleground for control over the drug trade. Mexican officials have condemned the killings, with the Sinaloa government spokesperson declaring that military and police forces are working together to reestablish total peace in the region. However, many locals doubt authorities’ ability to bring an end to the bloodshed. ‘Military and police forces are working together to reestablish total peace in Sinaloa,’ said Feliciano Castro, the state’s government spokesperson, in a statement on Monday. The situation has been further complicated by incidents such as the recent killing of a TikTok influencer in Mexico, who was shot and killed on livestream, drawing international attention.
The U.S. has taken a hard line against the Sinaloa cartel, designating Los Chapitos as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist group following the imposition of sanctions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the group’s role in facilitating fentanyl trafficking in the United States. ‘Los Chapitos is a powerful, hyperviolent faction of the Sinaloa cartel at the forefront of fentanyl trafficking in the United States,’ he stated. The violence has also claimed the lives of U.S. military veterans, such as Nicholas Quets, a Marine veteran killed by cartel-linked gunmen in Sonora, Mexico. The U.S. government’s approach, which includes terrorism charges against cartel leaders, marks a dramatic shift in its strategy to combat drug trafficking. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains uncertain, with many locals in Sinaloa feeling the authorities are losing control of the situation.
Environmental impacts have also been noted, with hundreds of animals fleeing from the chaos caused by cartel violence, prompting threats to a wildlife refuge. This highlights the broader consequences of the drug war, extending beyond human casualties to affect ecosystems and wildlife. The Associated Press has contributed to this report, underscoring the severity of the situation in Culiacán. The discovery of the 20 corpses has reignited concerns over the escalating violence in Sinaloa, raising questions about the future of the region and the possibility of a long-term resolution to the drug war.